Dream job makes a difference

AL Carstens started in the aviation industry as a 14-year-old teenager, helping refuel planes and mow the lawns at Carrara Airport on the Gold Coast.

From his first days flying a Tiger Moth, Al has since flown helicopters in jobs across Australia.

He started his commercial pilot's licence in 1986 then pursued a helicopter licence in Kununurra, Western Australia, in 1990.

“My dream changed to becoming a helicopter pilot after going on a helicopter ride one day,” he said.

Al worked for a few months in Derby, at the bottom of the Kimberleys, then spent three seasons in nearby Kununurra on charter flights, working with conservation and land management, tourism, scenic flights, survey work and mining operations.

“One day I'd be out with the rock doctors, learning about geology and the next I'd be with a film crew,” he said.

In the mid-1990s, Al moved to Thursday Island where he transferred marine pilots and stock to the islands and was involved in border protection with AQIS.

He eventually moved to the AGL Rescue Helicopter's Bundaberg base in 1998 and five years later joined the team at the Maroochydore base.

“What I enjoy about this job is the fact that it's a community helicopter service and I'm part of a team that makes a difference to the community,” he said.